Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 18:
Reacting to the statement issued by the village authority of Kwarok Maring Khul in connection with the Catholic-Baptist stand off that led to the act of vandalising five houses belonging to the Catholics allegedly by the Baptist Christians, Rev Fr KD Joy, Chancellor, Archbishop's House, Imphal clarified that the relevant news report was not a news item reported by the Church Church.
"At the same time it must be noted that a Fact Finding Team went to Kwarok village on January 16 to ascertain the facts and they have reported that the Catholic Church was desecrated and the houses belonging to the Catholic members destroyed", he said.
Denying Kwarok village authority's claim that there is no Catholic Church in the village, Joy said that the Catholic Church which is very much in existence is not just a material structure but it is basically the place where its members are professing their faith in Jesus Christ.
Besides destroying five houses, the mob also entered the Church and tore into pieces 'stations of the cross' which for Catholic is very significant part of the Church in terms of sanctity, he said.
Recalling the village authority's January 7 resolution which was adopted to allow only Baptist Church to exist in the village, the Chancellor said the Catholic leaders are doubt if ever the village authority's stand that the Baptist Christians are not involved in the incident could be true at any cost and termed it as "saying your right hand does not know what your left hand is doing".